Pope urges healing in wake of scandals

April 17, 2008|By Michael Amon and Jennifer Barrios Newsday and Staff Writer William E. Gibson contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday that the clergy sex scandal was sometimes mishandled by church officials and called on U.S. bishops to reach out to abuse victims.

"It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," Pope Benedict said, according to a transcript of a speech to 350 bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The remarks came a day after Pope Benedict said on his flight to the United States that he was "deeply ashamed" of the scandal. He dealt with the issue briefly in the middle of a 6,000-word speech on how bishops can strengthen their churches.

His remarks this week have been his first on the topic and went further than anything said by his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.

"It's the closest the pope has come to saying that the bishops didn't do their job right. I think that's quite significant," said the Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and author of books on the Vatican.

Pope Benedict did not go as far as some abuse victims have called for - he did not talk about bishops accused of transferring pedophile priests from parish to parish. He praised bishops for instituting training programs for priests and lay people who deal with children.

"In this regard, your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit, not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society," Pope Benedict said.

In the speech, Pope Benedict also addressed faltering church attendance, declining numbers entering vocations and immigration, a controversial political issue during an election year.

"Obviously, this hits home," said Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Estevez of Miami, a Cuban immigrant who came to this country in 1961 as part of a Catholic program known as Pedro Pan. "This church is very experienced in welcoming immigrants.

"It is an important message at this particular vulnerable moment of anti-immigration attitudes, which is dangerous," Estevez said. "Immigration is not only a political or economic reality, it is also a moral issue. It relates to how we include the poor, how we care for families that are discouraged.

Earlier in the day, the pope's first visit to the United States officially kicked off at the White House, his first official stop on a six-day visit that coincided with his 81st birthday on Wednesday.

His remarks to a crowd of 13,500 on a sunny South Lawn - far exceeding what White House expected - were both grateful and serious, laying down a foundation for his visit to address 67 million Catholics he views as struggling to balance unlimited freedom with a need to stay true to the Church's teachings.

"Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility," the pope told the crowd as President Bush looked on.

"The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good, and a sense of responsibility toward the less fortunate."

Just being among the excited throng to greet the pope at the White House this morning made Bishop Gerald Barbarito "so proud to a Catholic and proud to be an American."

"The ceremony was really quite moving," said the bishop of Palm Beach. "The holy father was most affirming of the values of our country, especially concern for the poor and needy around the world."

Barbarito had met Pope Benedict when he was still a cardinal. "My impression has never changed," the bishop said. "He is the most gracious, warm person, with an intellect of the highest caliber."

"I think what his visit is doing is instilling in everybody a sense of values and faith in general. Our young people are looking for that."

The bishop said many people in South Florida had approached him to express their excitement about the pope's visit to Washington and New York this week.

Bush picked up the theme as well, calling on the world to embrace Pope Benedict's message.

"In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this 'dictatorship of relativism,' and embrace a culture of justice and truth," Bush said, to applause.

Staff Writer William E. Gibson contributed to this report.

Newsday is a Tribune Co. newspaper.

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

Highlights of papal visit

Today: Mass at Nationals Park; meeting with top educators from 200 Catholic colleges and universities at Catholic University of America; meeting with Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim leaders.

Friday: Address to United Nations in New York; prayer service with leaders of other Christian groups.

Saturday: Mass for clergy at St. Patrick's Cathedral; rally and prayer service with young Catholics at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers.